Is UA racist?

Calantha
Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:05:31 +0000

“Old South” is not a University event. It is an annual social event put on by the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. Many of their chapters across the country hold this event. Here is an explanation from their Auburn chapter’s website:

[Kappa Alpha Order](http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/greeks/kappa_alpha_order/oldsouth.php) History of Old South:

For many chapters, Kappa Alpha Order’s largest social event is the Old South formal. It is designed to celebrate the fraternity’s southern history and to honor the southern ideals of hospitality, courtesy, and chivalry. The event has its roots at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. The brothers of Kappa chapter at Mercer were inspired by the release of Gone with the Wind in 1939 to hold the “Dixie Ball”, a celebration of Southern pride. The event quickly spread to other chapters across the country and evolved into the modern Old South formal.

Though traditions vary by chapter, many have chosen to make the event a “trip back in time” to the Antebellum South, prior to and during the American Civil War. A common feature is for brothers to dress in Civil War uniforms, and for their dates to wear antebellum dresses. Occasionally, invitations to the event will be delivered by brothers on horseback, or in a manner similar to what was customary in the 19th century. At many chapters, Old South has been expanded to comprise a full week of social events, culminating with the traditional Old South ball.

Last year there was some controversy. The KA’s had a sort of caravan of flat bed trucks carrying the guys dressed in Civil War regalia. They travelled down sorority row and stopped to pick up their sorority dates who were also dressed up. For those familiar with Magnolia Dr, that meant stopping in front of the AKA house (an NPHC sorority). The problem was the AKA’s were having their 35th Anniversary event at the same time.

Some folks, especially reporters, thought this was an intentional racial slight considering the event theme and the guys’ attire. In reality it was a matter of the guys poor planning and a failure to check out ahead of time if any sorority had an event going on where their trucks would block traffic. Still, the KA’s offered an official apololgy.

As for the Bham airport, yes it is only about an hour drive to Tuscaloosa depending on the time of day and traffic.